Japanese reactions to Trump's decision on INF

October 21, 2018

Reactions to Trump's decision on INF

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181021_17/

Some people in the Japanese atomic-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are criticizing US President Donald Trump's announcement that he would withdraw his country from the nuclear missile treaty.

A 72-year-old man in Hiroshima, whose parents and sister suffered the 1945 attack on the city, says the disastrous scenes he heard from his parents as a boy are deeply etched in his mind. He says in order to achieve world peace, countries should not possess nuclear weapons. He says the Japanese government needs to clearly oppose Trump's decision.

A 53-year-old man says he is against the US move, saying he wants a nuclear-free world. He criticized the Japanese government for what he sees as its weak-kneed stance against the US. He says he hopes Japanese officials will speak out.

A 55-year-old woman says Trump's statement made her sad because she strongly wants nuclear weapons to be abolished. She says without the support of major powers like the US and Russia it would be difficult to achieve that. She added the countries should not have nuclear weapons if they are telling others not to.

Some survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki are expressing concerns. The head of a citizens' group in Nagasaki protesting nuclear tests, Takeshi Yamakawa, says he is worried about the future impact of the US withdrawal.

Another survivor who joined a sit-in at the Peace Memorial Park in the city describes the move as another reckless action by Trump. He adds the US president is not consistent in seeking North Korea's denuclearization, while expanding the nuclear buildup in his country.

Another survivor says the pullout goes against the trend toward nuclear abolition triggered by last year's adoption of UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.